Pouched continuous envelope system

ABSTRACT

Each envelope of the continuous envelope assembly includes a back ply secured to a front ply to define an open ended main pocket and a flap to fold over the front ply to close the pocket. In addition, an insert ply is secured within the pocket to one of the front or back plys in order to form an insert pocket. Each of the front and back plys has a tear-away portion along one side which permits the envelope, after sealing, to be opened from the side in order to simultaneously expose the contents of the insert pocket and the main pocket.

' llnited States Patent [191 Neubauer [in v 3,918,632 1 1 Nov. 11, 1975POUCHED CONTINUOUS ENVELOPE SYSTEM 3.608316 9/1971 Neubauer .1 229/85Primary E.\aminerwilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. GarbeAttorney. Agent, 0) FirmKenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [57]ABSTRACT Each envelope of the continuous envelope assembly includes aback ply secured to a front ply to define an open ended main pocket anda flap to fold over the front ply to close the pocket. in addition. aninsert ply is secured within the pocket to one of the front or back plysin order to form an insert pocket. Each of the front and back plys has atear-away portion along one side which permits the envelope aftersealing. to be opened from the'side in order to simultaneously exposethe contents of the insert pocket and the main pocket.

10 Claims. 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 c/rY 57-422-POLTIIEI) CONTINUOUS ENVELOPE SYSTEM This invention relates to a pouchedcontinuous envelope assembly. More particularly. this invention relatesto a pouched continuous envelope and an envelope having an insert pockettherein.

Heretofore. various types of continuous envelope systems have beenknown, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,816, for usewith high speed processing equipment. In some instances. the envelopeshave been prestuffed with an insert of self-imaging paper which allowsinformation to be recorded on the insert through the envelope by meansof a printer. For example, by feeding a continuous series of envelopesthrough the printer, the printer is able to impress an image on theinsert through the plys of the envelope. In other cases. the assembliescan be fed through a high speed printer with or without any insertswhile address information is recorded on each envelope in consecutiveorder. In either case. the recording of information can be programmedautomatically.

In some instances. a need arises to stuff more than one insert into aseries of envelopes. For example. in the case of clubs. a statement ofaccount and bill receipts are sometimes mailed to a club member. In thecase of a bank, a statement of account and cancelled checks arefrequently mailed to a customer. In other cases, letters and insertssuch as credit cards are mailed. Generally, in all these cases, thestatement and the supplemental materials are folded together and stuffedas such into the envelopes. As a result, the addressee has been requiredto remove all the inserts from an opened envelope before being able toread any one such insert. This is not only annoying but cumbersome andtime consuming where the supplemental materials are not of immediateimportance to the addressee.

In order to overcome some of these disadvantages. suggestions have beenmade to construct an envelope with a side pocket into which varioussupplemental materials can be stuffed. However, such envelopes cannot bereadily processed on automatic machines.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to pro vide a pouchedcontinuous envelope assembly which contains envelopes having an insertpocket within a main pocket.

It is another object of the invention to provide a continuous envelopeassembly which has an insert pocket separate from a main pocket forreceiving supplemental materials through the top of the envelope andwhich can be opened from the side.

It is another object of the invention to provide an envelope having amain pocket and an insert pocket within the main pocket for receivingsupplemental materials such as credit cards, bills. receipts and thelike.

It is another object of the invention to provide a continuous envelopeassembly having insert pockets which can be readily used on automaticinserting equipment.

It is another object of the invention to provide an envelope containingseparate pockets from which materials can be selectively removed.

Briefly. the invention provides a continuous envelope system comprisinga series of interconnected envelopes which can be stuffed from the topand opened from the side. Each envelope of the assembly comprises afront ply, a back ply secured to the front ply to form a-main open endedpocket therewith, an insert ply within the main pocket which is securedto one of the front or back plys to form an insert pocket. and atear-away portion along a common edge of at least the front and backplys. The tear-away portions on each ply are sccared to each other forsimultaneous removal from the remainder of the envelope in order toexpose each of the pockets. Each envelope also includes a closure meansin the form of a flap portion on the front ply for folding over the backply to enclose the pocket.

Generally. the envelopes are of rectangular construction with the flapportion on the front ply and located along an upper edge. that is.across the width of the envelope. In addition. the insert ply is ofrectangular shape and is secured along three edges to either ofthe frontand back plys to open in the same direction as the main pocket. Tl-leinsert ply may extend over the whole width of the plys or only over afraction of the whole widthv The tear-away portions are located along aside edge of the envelope and are defined by lines of weakening in eachof the plys. Upon removal of the tear-away portions. after the envelopehas been scaled. the two pockets are exposed simultaneously. In thisway. the contents of either pocket may be removed without having toremove the contents of the other pocket.

In order to facilitate removal of the contents of the envelope. thetear-away portions on the front and back plys can be provided with anintegral tab portion which projects into the plane of the remainder ofthe plys to form a recess in each of the plys upon removal. In a similarmanner. the front ply may be provided with a cut-out within the plane ofthe open end of the insert pocket to facilitate insertion ofsupplemental material into the insert pocket. A

Any suitable means for securing the flap of the front ply to the backply to close the pocket therebetween may be used. For example, a stripof pressure sensitive adhesive may be applied along a face of the flapportion.

The envelopes of the assembly are secured together via the front plyswith lines of weakening disposed transversely across the upper and loweredges of each front ply. In addition. a detachable edge strip is locatedat each side of the assembly to provide a feeding means for feeding theseries of envelopes through high speed processing equipment and to aidin the securement of the plys together. Such a detachable strip may beof any known construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope assembly of the inventionand a single envelope detached from the series;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an envelope according to theinvention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of an envelope according to theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a continuous envelope assembly 10 includes aplurality of envelopes 11 which are interconnected together alongtransverse lines of weakening 12 at the upper and lower edges.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, each envelope 1] is made up of a front ply13 of rectangular shape, a back ply 14 of rectangular shape and aninsert ply 15 of rectangular shape. The front and back plys 13, 14 aresecured together near three sides in order to form a main openendedpocket 16. In addition, the back ply 14 is of smaller length I.. thatis. in the vertical direction as viewed. then the front ply 13. In thisway. the front ply I3 is formed with a flap portion 17 which is sized tofold over the hack ply 14 to enclose the main pocket 16. The insert ply15 is secured along two edges to the back ply 14 (or the front ply 13)in order to form an open-ended insert pocket 18. The open-end of theinsert pocket 18 is located near the same side as the opening to themain pocket 16.

Referring to FIG. 3. each of the front and back plys 13. 14 includes atear-away portion 19. 20 along a side edge which is defined by a lineofweakening 22. 23 and adjacent the side of the insert pocket 18.

The tear-away portions 19. 20 of the front and back plys 13. 14 are eachprovided with a tab portion 25 which projects into the remainder of therespective plys. Upon removal of the tear-away portions. a recess 26 isformed in each of the front and back plys 13, 14 (FIG. 1) to facilitateremoval of any inserts within the respective pockets [6. 18.

The back ply 14 is also provided with a recess 27 along the upper edgewithin the plane of the insert ply 15 to facilitate entry into theinsert pocket 18.

The construction ofeach envelope 1! is such that the insert ply issecured to the inside surface ofthe back ply 14 by lines of adhesive 28along two edges on the insert ply 15 to leave a side unsecured to theback ply 14. The back ply 14 is, in turn. secured to the front ply 13 bylines of adhesive 29 along three edges on the front ply 13. The line ofadhesive 29 along the tear-away edge of each envelope 11 is disposedoutside the lines of weakening 22, 23, Le. to the right as viewed inFIG. 3, in order to avoid intereference with the opening up of thepockets 16, 18. In addition. insert ply l5 terminates just before theline of weakening 23 of the back ply 14.

Alternatively. the insert ply 15 may extend beyond the line of weakening23 and have a line of weakening or perforation aligned with the lines ofweakening 22, 23 of the front and back plys 13. 14 which can be readilytorn upon removal ofthe tear-away portions 19, 20 of the front and backplys 13, 14.

A suitable means. such as a strip of adhesive 30, is mounted along theupper ede of the flap portion 17 of each envelope 11 to facilitatesecurement of the flap portion 17 to the outer surface of the back ply14 in order to close the pockets l6, 18 of the envelope.

Referring to FIG. 1, the assembly 10 is also provided with a feedingmeans 31 at each side to allow feeding of the assembly 10 through amachine such as a high speed printer or continuous printer as is known.Each feeding means 31 is defined by a detachable strip on each of thefront and back plys I3, 14 of the envelopes 11. Each of the front andback plys 13, 14 also has a line of weakening 32 separating these stripsfrom the tear-away portions 19, 20 and each line 32 is located outsideof the lines of adhesive 28. 29. In this sense. the means 31 is made upof two pieces which are unconnected to each other but which areconnected to the respective front and back plys 13, 14. Each feedingmeans 31 also includes a series of holes 33 for registering withsuitable pins within processing machinery as is known.

As shown in FIG. 1, an envelope assembly 10, after passing through aprinter (not shown) has the feeding means 31 removed and each envelope11 is sequentially removed from the assembly. At this time. variousmaterials can be stuffed into the respective pockets 16, 18 of eachenvelope 11. For example. as shown. a statement of account form 34 canbe inserted into the main pocket 16 while a number of hill receipts 35are inserted into the insert pocket 18. Thereafter. the envelope flapportion 17 is folded over and sealed to the hack ply 14 in order to sealthe envelope 11. The enve lope 11 can then be mailed to an addresseenamed on the front face of the envelope 11 as shown in FIG. 2. Theinformation regarding the addressee can be placed on the envelope 11 atany time during processing as is known.

Upon receipt. the addressee grasps the tear-away portions 19. 20 locatedalong the edge of the envelope 11 in one hand and the remainder of theenvelope in the other hand. Next. in a simple one-step operation, thetear-away portions 19, 20 are then snapped from the remainder of theenvelope 11. This simultaneously exposes both the main pocket 16 and theinsert pocket 18 to the side ofthe envelope. At the same time. therecesses 26 in the front and back plys ofthe envelope are formed. Thecontents 34, 35 within the pockets 16, 18 can then be selectivelyremoved from the sides of the pockets 16. 18. For example. the statementof account 34 can be removed from the main pocket 16 while leaving thereceipts 35 in the insert pocket 18. Alternatively. the insert pocket 18can be emptied first.

It is noted that the tab portion 25 can be sized relative to the insert34 in the main pocket so that a portion ofthe insert 34 is disposedbetween the tab portions 25. In this way. the insert 34 can be removedsimultaneously with the tear-away portions 19, 20 upon opening of anenvelope 11.

The invention thus provides an assembly of envelopes each of whichcontains an insert pocket separate from a main pocket. In this way.various materials which are to be mailed can be maintained separate fromeach other for separate removal upon reaching an ultimate addressee.

The invention also provides a continuous envelope assembly that can beused in automated equipment wherein prestuffed self-imaging inserts canbe provided with information and thereafter other materials can beinserted into the insert pockets for mailing purposes.

The invention further provides an envelope assembly which can be easilyfabricated to define separate pockets. In this respect. the insertplys-can be secured to the front plys in a separate operation and thefront plys thereafter secured to the back plys. This can be carried outon automated equipment in various known manners.

What is claimed is:

l. A continuous series of interconnected envelopes, each said envelopecomprising a back ply. a front ply secured to said back ply to form afirst open-ended pocket therewith. a flap portion on one of said plysfor folding over the other of said plys to enclose said pocket. at leastone insert ply within said pocket secured along at least two edgesthereof to one of said front and back plys to form an insert pocketwithin said first pocket. said insert ply having an edge unsecured tosaid front and back plys. a tear-away portion along a common edge ofeach of at least said front and back plys and adjacent said unsecurededge of said insert pocket. each of said tear-away portions beingdefined by a line of weakening said tear-away portion being secured toeach other for simultaneous removal from the remainder of said envelopeto expose each said pocket for removal of the contents of the insertpocket from said side of said insert pocket corresponding to said unsecured edge and the corresponding side of said envelopc.

2. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim I wherein eachof said front and back plys is rectangular and said tear-away portionsthereofarc located on a side of said envelope.

3. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidinsert ply is rectangular.

4. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidtear-away portion of each said front and back plys each include a tabportion projecting into the remainder of each said respective ply forforming a cutout in each respective ply upon removal of said respectivetear-away portions.

5. A continuous envelope system comprising a series of interconnectedenvelopes wherein each envelope includes a back ply interconnected to aback ply of an adjacent envelope, Y

a front ply secured on said back ply to define an open-ended pockettherewith, said front ply being of smaller length than said back ply todefine a flap portion on said back ply for folding over said front plyto close said pocket, an insert ply secured along at least two edgesthereof to one of said front and back plys to define an insert pockethaving an edge unsecured to said front and back plys,

each of said front and back plys having a tear-away portion along oneedge and adjacent said unsecured edge of said insert ply for exposingsaid pockets upon removal of said tear-away portion to permit removal ofthe contents of said pockets from the side of each said insert pocketcorresponding to said unsecured edge and said corresponding side of eachof said envelopes. each of said tear-away portions being defined by aline of weakening and a detachable edge strip at each side of saidseries of envelopes to provide a feeding means for said series ofenvelopes.

6. A continuous series of interconnected envelopes. each said envelopecomprising a front ply, a back ply, means securing said front ply andsaid back ply together to form a first openended pocket therein, a flapportion on said back ply for folding over said front ply and havingmeans thereon to secure said flap portion to said front ply to enclosesaid pocket, an insert ply within said first pocket secured along atleast two edges thereof to one of said plys to form an insert pocketwithin said 6 first pocket. said insert pocket having an edge unsecuredto said front and back plys. and a tearaway portion along a common edgeof each said front and back plies and adjacent said edge of said insertpocket, each said tear-away portion being secured to an overlyingtear-away portion for simultaneous removal from the remainder of saidenvelope to expose each said pocket for removal of the contents of saidinsert pocket from the side of said insert pocket corresponding to saidunsecured edge, each of said tear-away portions being defined by a lineof weakening.

7. A continuous series of interconnected envelopes, each said envelopecomprising a rectangular front ply having a tear-away portion along oneedge thereof: a rectangular back ply secured to said front ply aboutthree edges thereof to form a first opened-ended pocket therebetween,said back ply including a tearaway portion along one edge thereofsuperimposed upon a tear-away portion located along the correspondingedge of said front ply. and a flap portion for folding over said backply to close said pocket; and an insert ply secured in place betweensaid front and back plys to define an insert pocket within said firstpocket. said insert ply having an edge unsecured to said front and backplys. said insert pocket terminating at said unsecured edge adjacentsaid tearaway portions of said front and back plys whereby after closingof said flap portion on said back ply and upon removal of said tearawayportions, said pockets are simultaneously exposed for removal of thecontents of the insert pocket from said side of said insert pocketcorresponding to said un secured edge and the corresponding side of saidenvelope each of said tear-away portions being defined by a line ofweakening.

8. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 7 whichfurther includes means on said flap portion for securing said flapportion to said back ply.

9. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidinsert ply is rectangular and is secured along at least two edges to oneof said front and back plys to define an opening into said insertpocket, said latter opening being located under said flap portion uponfolding of said flap portion over said back ply.

10. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 7 whereinsaid back has a recess therein overlying said insert ply to expose saidinsert ply and provide access to said insert pocket.

1. A continuous series of interconnected envelopes, each said envelopecomprising a back ply, a front ply secured to said back ply to form afirst open-ended pocket therewith, a flap portion on one of said plysfor folding over the other of said plys to enclose said pocket, at leastone insert ply within said pocket secured along at least two edgedthereof to one of said front and back plys to form an insert pocketwithin said first pocket, said insert ply having an edge unsecured tosaid front and back plys, a tear-away portion along a common edge ofeach of at least said front and back plys and adjacent said unsecurededge of said insert pocket, each of said tear-away portions beingdefined by a line of weakening said tear-away portion being secured toeach other for simultaneous removal from the remainder of said envelopeto expose each said pocket for removal of the contents of the insertpocket from said side of said insert pocket corresponding to saidunsecured edge and the corresponding side of said envelope.
 2. Acontinuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid front and back plys is rectangular and said tear-away portionsthereof are located on a side of said envelope.
 3. A continuous seriesof envelopes as set forth in claim 2 wherein said insert ply isrectangular.
 4. A continuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 1wherein said tear-away portion of each said front and back plys eachinclude a tab portion projecting into the remainder of each saidrespective ply for forming a cut-out in each respective ply upon removalof said respective tear-away portions.
 5. A continuous envelope systemcomprising a series of interconnected envelopes wherein each envelopeincludes a back ply interconnected to a back ply of an adjacentenvelope, a front ply secured on said back ply to define an open-endedpocket therewith, said front ply being of smaller length than said backply to define a flap portiOn on said back ply for folding over saidfront ply to close said pocket, an insert ply secured along at least twoedges thereof to one of said front and back plys to define an insertpocket having an edge unsecured to said front and back plys, each ofsaid front and back plys having a tear-away portion along one edge andadjacent said unsecured edge of said insert ply for exposing saidpockets upon removal of said tear-away portion to permit removal of thecontents of said pockets from the side of each said insert pocketcorresponding to said unsecured edge and said corresponding side of eachof said envelopes, each of said tear-away portions being defined by aline of weakening and a detachable edge strip at each side of saidseries of envelopes to provide a feeding means for said series ofenvelopes.
 6. A continuous series of interconnected envelopes, each saidenvelope comprising a front ply, a back ply, means securing said frontply and said back ply together to form a first open-ended pockettherein, a flap portion on said back ply for folding over said front plyand having means thereon to secure said flap portion to said front plyto enclose said pocket, an insert ply within said first pocket securedalong at least two edges thereof to one of said plys to form an insertpocket within said first pocket, said insert pocket having an edgeunsecured to said front and back plys, and a tear-away portion along acommon edge of each said front and back plies and adjacent said edge ofsaid insert pocket, each said tear-away portion being secured to anoverlying tear-away portion for simultaneous removal from the remainderof said envelope to expose each said pocket for removal of the contentsof said insert pocket from the side of said insert pocket correspondingto said unsecured edge, each of said tear-away portions being defined bya line of weakening.
 7. A continuous series of interconnected envelopes,each said envelope comprising a rectangular front ply having a tear-awayportion along one edge thereof; a rectangular back ply secured to saidfront ply about three edges thereof to form a first opened-ended pockettherebetween, said back ply including a tear-away portion along one edgethereof superimposed upon a tear-away portion located along thecorresponding edge of said front ply, and a flap portion for foldingover said back ply to close said pocket; and an insert ply secured inplace between said front and back plys to define an insert pocket withinsaid first pocket, said insert ply having an edge unsecured to saidfront and back plys, said insert pocket terminating at said unsecurededge adjacent said tear- away portions of said front and back plyswhereby after closing of said flap portion on said back ply and uponremoval of said tear-away portions, said pockets are simultaneouslyexposed for removal of the contents of the insert pocket from said sideof said insert pocket corresponding to said unsecured edge and thecorresponding side of said envelope each of said tear-away portionsbeing defined by a line of weakening.
 8. A continuous series ofenvelopes as set forth in claim 7 which further includes means on saidflap portion for securing said flap portion to said back ply.
 9. Acontinuous series of envelopes as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidinsert ply is rectangular and is secured along at least two edges to oneof said front and back plys to define an opening into said insertpocket, said latter opening being located under said flap portion uponfolding of said flap portion over said back ply.
 10. A continuous seriesof envelopes as set forth in claim 7 wherein said back has a recesstherein overlying said insert ply to expose said insert ply and provideaccess to said insert pocket.